Get access to this article and to all of thebmj.com for 14 daysSign up today for a 14 day free trial

People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) should be offered psychological treatment rather than drug treatment or the widely used practice of debriefing. This is the recommendation of a guideline for the NHS in England and Wales published this week.

The guideline, from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, says that up to 30% of people who experience an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic event may develop the disorder. The most characteristic symptom is reliving aspects of the traumatic event in a vivid and distressing way, including flashbacks, nightmares, and repetitive and distressing intrusive images or other sensory impressions from the event.

After reviewing …

Get access to this article and to all of thebmj.com for 14 daysSign up today for a 14 day free trial